Continuous-draw vacuum window-glass machine.



I H; D. HERSHEY. CONTINUOUS DRAW VACUUM WINDOW GLAS$ MACHINE.APPLICATION FILED 1522, 1908.

Patnted Oct. 13, 1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1. SEE-l munmi' 3 INVENTOR v 4 HIM/4 M A TTORNEYS H. n.HERSHEY. v commuovs DB'AW vAcmm wmbow GLASS mom. APPLIOATIQN IILED JAN.22, 1908.

901 1 O; y I Patented Oct. 13,1908.

. 4 SHEETB-SHEET 2.

W/TNESSES INVENTOH A TTOHNEYS 11'; D.HERSHEY. oqn'rmuops DRAW VACUUMwmnow emss MACHINE.

'APPLIOATZIOK rmnn JAH.22,19 08. Y

Patented Oct. 13,1908.

4 SHBETB-SHEET 3.

I ll INVENTOR MW HM BY ATTORNEYS .H. 1). HERSHEY. "GONTI NUOUS DRAWVACUUM WINDOW GLASS MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILIZI) JAB. 22, 1908.

901,170. Patented Oct. 13,1908.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W/TNE uvvnvron ATTORNEYS w farryflfirakei I {12/ a M B) also to the aformlngja partial vacuum around the cylin' .1-'

comprises azmethod and means whereby a cylindrical c'olumnof glass isdrawnupwardj from a'body of molten glass, and the cylin-* I drical formof therising column is main- State of HARRY D. HERSHEY,-OF LitTROBE,PENNSYLVANIA.

' CONTINUOUS-DRAW VACUUM WINDOW-GLASSMACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Oct. 18,1908.

Application filed January 22, 1908. Serial No. 412,104.

To all'wlz'om it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRrD. HERSHEY, a c tlzen'of the United States, anda resident of Latrobe,- in the county of Westmoreland and Pennsvania,have invented a new and Improve Continuous-Draw Vacuum Window-GlassMachine, of which the follow-' ing is a; full, clear, andexactdescription.

j Mymvention relates to glass drawing, and more particularlyto a-methodof drawing glass 1n cylindrical form suitable'for flattenmg out inorder-to make window glass, and method of shaping the glass by derof-glass as such cylinder is formed.

My invention further relates to certain improvements in constructionwhereby the general e ciency! of. glass'drawing machinery is promoted; v

-More', particularly" stated, my invention tained and its diameterrendered substanartial' 'vacuumfaround the column as the atter isformed, air being meanwhile ad- -m1tted freely to theinterior of thecolumn.

g 1 My invention also provides for discarding thel use of a bait afterthe cylindrical glass 7 column is started, a portion of the columnitself being solidified sufiiciently to serve as a lifting member forthe more viscous portions of the column, and; the column being formed,

continuously and at intervals cut off in sections from, its upper e'nd.i

.1 Reference is to be had to the accompany ing drawingsforming a part ofthis specifica-' tion, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all thefigures.

? Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a number'of drawing machinesconnected with a single-blower for forming partial vacuums,

one'around eachrising-cylin( lrical column of glass; Fig. 2 is asectionthrough one end of the glass furnace showing the glass well, andthe bait-drawing upwardly therefrom, a tufpartial vacuum is formed andmaintained first around the bait and then, as the bait moves upwardly,how theatmosphericpres: sureis transferred to the glass column alone;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan viewof one of the 1 base plates, carryinglifting wheels covered tially uniform, which is/"done by creating a fbularcolumn of glass, this view furthershowing the extracting apparatuswhereby a.

with asbestos jackets for engaging, the hot glass column and raising thesame carefully but continuously, this view showing the gearing foractuating the lifting wheels;-Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one of thebase plates, showingthe lifting wheels and gearing for actuating thesame; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing in section the bait, tube andin plan the upper end of the annular valve memglass cylinder; Fig. 6 isa substantially cen- -chamber, and shows the baittube' dipping into themolten glass and ready to draw upwardly therefrom a 'cylindrical columnof glass; Fig. 7 is a section through ,one of the shafts supporting thevarious lifting wheels, this view'showin how the rim of each wheel as togive the whole rim a sprin action relatively to its supporting shaft; Fig. 8 is a detailsection through one of the lifting wheels, showing-howthe springs are mounted upon the hub, and how the rim and itsaccompanying parts aresecured upon-the springs so as to allow the rim,under a gentle pressure, to become slightly eccentric inrelation to theshaft; and Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the considerably above thefriction wheels and sufficiently cool and firm to be broken or cut intosections, this view further showing how the friction wheels exert agentle upward pressure, evenly distributed, upon the glass column so asto lift it continuously.

A glass furnace is shown at 9 and is provided with'a Wall 10 and a door11 of usual construction. 1

At 12 isa clearing tank which is covered by a top stone 13 provided withan opening The main body of molten glass is shown at 16 and at 17 is asmaller body of'glass within the clearing tank 12, and connected withthe therefrom by the wall 10 so as to prevent, as

impurities into the clearing tank 12.

platforms 18 for supporting various movable parts as hereinafterdescribed. Several vacuum chambers 19 are provided, each being mountedupon a top stone 13, and con- -nected with each'vacuum chamber is a pipeis rendered elastic relatively to'the shaft so glass column having itsupper end raisedmain body 16 of glass but partially separated Aframework 17 f sustains a number of,

her usedfor encircling the'bait tube and the tral vertical sectionthrough the Vacuum 15 and with'a neck 14 encircling this opening.

far as practicable, the-entrance of floating .1 20provided with ahand'valve 21, the several pipes. 20 being connected together by pipe;

' 42. A gear wheel 43 .is moiinted rigidly upon the shaft 39 and mesheswith a pinion44 insections 23, the latter being joined by thimbl'es 22so as to form a continuous pipe. A blower 23 is connected with this pipeand is adapted to create a partial vacuum in each of the various vacuumchambers 19.

Mounted within the vacuumchamber 19 isa ring 24 of substantiallysemi-tubular form and provided with perforations 25 (see Fig. 6).Disposed centrally -within the vacuum chamber19 and concentric to thering 24 is a bait. tube 26 having at its lower end a thickened portion27 serving as a bait. The upper end of the bait tube isprovided withcars 28 whereby it may be lifted. A valve 29 of flexible sheetasbestosis mounted upon the upper end of the vacuum chamber 19,- whichis provided with 'an annular flange 30 and a clamping ring 31 forthepurpose of holding this valve in position.

Friction wheels are shown at 32, and each is provided withia hub 33having. faces 34 inclined slightly in relation to each other, as will beunderstood from Fig. 8. Metallic rings 35,- 35*, 35 are connected withthe hub an asbestos jacket 37 having substantially the same conformityasthe nm. The rings 35, 35, 35 are made of springmetal and are adapted toallow the rim 36 carrying the asbestos jacket 37 to become eccentricinrelation to thehub 33.

.' It will be noted from Fig. 8 that the'rin s 35, 35 35 lie in planeswhich are'slightlyi inclined toward each other. 35

utes the strain and prevents the rim from .having undue play'in thegeneral direction of the length of the axis of the hub. Fastenings 38 38are employed for securing the rings 3 5, 35 35 in position. The liftingwheels-are mounted upoufjshafts 39, 40,41,

order to turn the. shaft 39, said pinion being mounted on a shaft (notshown) leading from a'source'bf power. Bearings; 45 arepnovided for thevarious shafts and mounted rigidly upon these shafts are bevel gears 46,47,

meshed-in pairs, as shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose of transmittingpower from oneshaft to another., When, therefore, power is'applied tothe pinion 44,- it, is transmitted through the gear wheel 43, thevarious shafts 39,40, 41 and 42 andrbevei gears 46, 4 7,-' so that thevarious lifting Wheels 32 engaging the bait tube 26 (andlater engagingaglass column- 49) press uniformly thereupon and exert a' gentle liftingeflect, which is contin uous.

Each platform 18 is rovided withla circuand the glass cylinder may-beraised.

The operation of my'device is as follows: The bait tube 26'islowereduntil the bait 27 enga es the s n-face of the molten glass 17 1 theclearing 12. Tower-being now'apand support a concave rim. 36 coveredwith This distriblar opening 18*, throng which the bait tube appliedata'i'n' is upon this accountthatll give the lifting wheels theparticular sha e above described.

- avoid a mward.

plied through the pinion44 and gear wheel 43 t0 the shafts 39, 4.0, 41and 42 and bevel gears 46 and 47, as above des ribcd, the variouslifting wheels 32 all turn such direction that their innermostv portionstravel upward. This raises the bait tube 26, and

as the bait 27 leaves the molten glass, a cylinder 4.9 of glass isformed. Meanwhile the contract, and this is just compensated or balancedby the atmospheric pressure.

The result is that the glass cylinder is of uniform diameter, thisdiameter being substantially the same as that of the bait tube 26. Thebait .tube 26 is soon raised entirely 'out of the vacuum chamber and'outof en gagement with the valve 29 so that this valve engages directlythe' outer surface of the glass cylinder 49. The partial cooling of thepart of the glass cylinder engaged by the valve 29 enables asubstantially airtight engagement to be made between the glass .cylinderand this valve, if there should be leakage through the asbestos valve29', it is compensated by the blower 23 so that the partial vacuumwithin the vacuum chamber 19 is at all times substantially uniform.

-' i The glass cylinder, .upon reaching the liftin wheels '32, is cooledand consequently so idified to such a degree as will prevent mutilation,abrasion or tearing of-the glass cylinder or injury to the asbestosjacket covering the friction wheels. Since, however, the glass cylinderis .very deli'cate and also very heavy, it is necessary that its weightbe dlstributed as nearly equally as ossible, and that the lifting effectof the iction wheels upon the cylinder shall be or of separate points.It

This also explains why t e rims are spring mounted relatively to thehubs so thateach wheel can assume an eccchtric shape. j

' It will be noted that the pressure exerted by the friction wheelsagainst the glass cylinder, is so applied hat the weight of the glasscylinder is supported by the jointactionof the four, frictionwheels, andfurthermore that the rim' of each wheel being springmounted, the variouslifting wheels adjust themselves automatically to the glass cylin derand apply their pressure equally upon it.

The glass: cylinder being raised to a meltcient-height, and during thistime becum .1

Moreover, this pressure is applied upon the i1 'being drawn. By usingbait tubes 26 of different diameters and varying the speed of the blower23, the operator may, at will, draw out glass cylinders of difierentdiameters. varied to some extent by varying the rapidity of the lift andproperly adjusting the speed of the blower. I

When the glass cylinder is drawn and separated into sections, asindicated in Fig. 9, each section is split and flattened outand workedup into window' glass in accordance with the manner heretofore known.

It'will be noted that in accordance with my invention, the vacuum ornegative pressure is exceedingly uniform in its'action and is differentfrom pressures heretofore em loyed for shaping the cylinder. It willlalsnoted t at the method employed in my invention is easyof application,exceedingly simple and far more economical than others employedheretofore. The glass produced is of good quality, and may be madecomparatively soft for the reason that it is drawn directly from theclearing tank and is not exposed to the outer atmosphere'until after itis practically completed. It will also be noted that in accordance withmy invention, a' single glass cylinder can be drawn continuously or madeof indefinite length, or may be separated into any number of sections,without interrupting the process of continuous drawing; It .will befurther noted that because of the facility for increasing or reducingthe vacuum'upon the outer walls of that ortion of the cylinder withinthe vacuum 0 amber, taken in connection with theexposure of the innerwalls to atmospheric pressure applied through theopen end of thecylinder, various advantages are.

offered as regards the quickness with which the work can be done, andmoreover the accessibility facilitated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent: T

1. The combination of a vacuum chamber, a valve connected therewith, areceptacle for of the various parts is greatly holding molten glass, abait tube provided with a portionfor entering saidreceptacle, said ba ttube engaging said. valve, and means for maintaining in said vacuumchamber a pressure difi'eringfromatmospheric pressure assaid bait'israised. r

'2. The combination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, a vacuumchamber The thickness of the glass can also be disposed adjacent to saidreceptacle and pro- I vided with a valve, means for drawing from saidmolten glass a member adapted to engage said valve for the purpose of.f0 a substantially airtight connection there etween, and means forvarying atmospheric pressure within said vacuum chamber.

3. The combination of a receptacle-for holding molten glass, a vacuumchamber disposed over said receptacle and provided with a valve, meansfor causing a partial vacuum within said vacuum chamber, and a bait for.drawing out a column of glass and bringing the same into substantiallyairtight engagement with said valve.

4. The combination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, a vacuumchamber disposed adjacent to said receptacle, a valve mounted upon saidvacuum chamber and adapted to engage directly the surface of a member ofglass awn out from said molten glass and passing through said vacuumchamber, and means for removing air from said vacuum chamber.

5. The combination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, a vacuumchamber disposed ad'acent to said receptacle, means for passing t oughsaid vacuum chamber a longitudinal member of glass drawn out from saidmolten glass, means for preventing ingress of air into said vacuumchamber, and mechamsmfor removing air from sald vacuum chamber. 6. Thecombination of a receptacle for holding molten glass, a bait movablerelatively to said. receptacle for the purpose of drawing a portion ofsaid glass into a predetermined form, and mechanism for a plying to saidmember a partial vacuum for t e purpose of maintaining said member in apredetermined shape.

7. The method herein described of formin glass, which consists indipping into a vo ume of molten lass a bait, withdrawing said bait so asto aw with it a member of molten glass, and maintaining said member in apre etermined shape by applying a partial vacuum to a portion of itsexterior.

8. The-method herein described of forming glass, which consists indrawing molten name to thisspecification in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HARRY D. HERSHEY.

Witnesses: I

A. G. OSBORNE, L. G, KISTNER.

